2 comments

Beqqa puts it politely! Those sanctioned tend to be the most vulnerable in society, least able to understand what is happening to them or to tackle any appeal. The way unemployement is measured is spurious to say the least, and, at the moment, apparantly more spurious in Tamworth (and Cannock) than elsewhere in Staffordshire. It's just suspicious that those two centres in Staffordshire have the highest proportions of low earners, increased health problems and lower educational abilities. Prime targets one might think to fall into the official traps that lose them benefits and get them kicked off the unemployment figures.

The claimant count is an inaccurate measure, because it excludes those on the government's Forced Unwaged Labour schemes, those sanctioned, currently about 4.5% of all claimants per month, and those unemployed who for various reasons don't claim JSA.